The Saint Luis Rey Carenas line, first introduced in 2021, is expanding with the addition of a new extra-aged blend–the Saint Luis Rey Carenas Ultramar. This cigar, made by Altadis U.S.A., is a tribute to the early days of the cigar trade when 16th-century Spanish vessels traveled “ultramar,” a word that means ‘overseas,’ from Puerto Carenas in the New World to Spain. During these long journeys, tobacco leaves were stored in barrels in a hidden part of the ship as a way to keep it safe from pirates as it was being transported to the King of Spain.
The Saint Luis Rey Carenas Ultramar’s blend features extra-aged tobaccos developed by the Grupo de Maestros of La Flor de Copan. It is handmade in Honduras, with a Nicaraguan wrapper and binder and premium Honduran and Nicaraguan filler.
“The transport of tobacco in the ships destined for Spain from the New World, was the first known form of tobacco fermentation and aging. The original Saint Luis Rey Carenas parallels how the tobacco would have tasted in the New World. The Saint Luis Rey Carenas Ultramar represents the extra-aged tobacco that would have been smoked upon the shipment’s arrival in Spain,” says Gabe Diaz, brand manager for Altadis U.S.A.
Saint Luis Rey Carenas Ultramar comes packaged in a stained deep blue box that represents the ocean’s rolling waves that merchants traveling the high seas would have seen. The interior of the box depicts a ship navigating turbulent waters; the box insert features a mapped route from Puerto Carenas to Sevilla, Spain.
Saint Luis Rey Carenas Ultramar will be presented in four sizes: Corona, 5 5/8 x 45; Robusto, 5 x 50; Toro, 6 x 52; and Magnum, 6 x 60. The suggested retail price per cigar will range from $9.10 to $10.69 before applicable taxes.